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Norma” Tutu” Taliaferro was born in Paiea, Maui, Hawaii on Dec. 22, 1929.  She lived an adventurous life with a core value that centered around her heart for others.   She was a find a way make a way gal and her influence will remain forever in the lives that knew her.   She went to dance with the angels on Oct. 31, 2019 in her room at Brookedale East Mesa.  

Her beautiful life will be forever cherished in the lives of her children;  Michele Gay Shurance of Redding, CA; Renee Ruth Pierce, Gilbert AZ; Kathleen Mary Toogood, Sedona AZ; James Douglas Milano, Mesa, AZ; their spouses Jim Shurance, John Pierce, Randy Toogood, Carol Milano;  Her 15 grandchildren,  41 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandson;  her brother Bob Davis and his wife Julan Pekkain.

Service / Celebration of Life, November 16, 2019 at 10:00 am at the Central Christian Church Gilbert Campus – Student Center, 965 E. Germann Rd. in Gilbert

Phyllis Jones Curtis age 97, passed away peacefully November 3, 2019 at Citrus Manor Assisted Living Center in Mesa, AZ.  She was born in St. Johns, AZ, August 22, 1922 to Hyrum and Mary Patterson Jones.  She attended St. John’s schools, graduated Valedictorian of her high school class and worked as a social worker for a short time.  She later went to Gila Junior College (now Eastern Arizona College) in Thatcher, AZ where she served as Student Body Vice President and graduated with honors.  There she met her eternal companion, Dean A. Curtis and 4 years later married while he was serving in the US Air Corps in Lincoln, Nebraska during WWII.  They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple.  While raising her family, she continued her educational pursuits and later graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.  She loved music and was an accomplished pianist and played the saxophone.  She filled a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her husband in the Canadian Winnipeg Mission. 

She is preceded in death by her husband Dr. Dean A. Curtis, grandson Jeremy Ronald Curtis and great grandson Stephen James Curtis, her parents, brother Lawrence, sisters Thelma, Helen, and Marguerite.  She is survived by her children Kenneth Dean Curtis, Janis Marie Gulledge, Ronald Cleve Curtis, Dr. Thomas J. Curtis and Deanna Lynn Cooley.  She has 38 grandchildren, 80 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. 

A visitation will be held Thursday 6-8 PM, November 14^th at Bunker’s University Chapel, 3529 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ and funeral service Saturday, November 16^th at the Church Street Chapel, located at 3610 W. Church Street, Thatcher, AZ at 11:00 AM with a visitation at 10:00 AM.

When Brian Smith passed away Sunday morning, October 27, 2019, at the Hospice Ryan House in Phoenix, Arizona, no one who knew him wondered if he had lived his life of 77 years to the fullest. Brian always went full throttle—whether it was in the courtroom, serving as an LDS missionary in Brazil or the Bronx, playing in a baseball game, finding himself on a white-water raft on the Salmon River, on a horse in the Tetons, in a speedboat, or in an airplane.  The story is told of Brian, when 5 years old, living on Berkley Lane in Scarsdale in a house that had a driveway which descended to a busy street.  One day, Brian got inside his parent’s 1948 Pontiac, pulled the brake off and rolled the car backwards until luckily, it hit a tree!

Brian was born to show-business parents, Eddie and Melba Smith, in Brooklyn, New York on April 14, 1942.  Starting as a boy in Scarsdale, New York both Brian and his younger brother, Edward, attended Edgewood Grammar School. It was here Brian’s 2nd run-in with a tree occurred with the active 7-year-old spending 3 months in the White Plains hospital after falling 35 feet to the ground, seriously fracturing his arm.

Brian graduated from Scarsdale High School in 1960 with both academic and athletic honors. Duke University was his next stop and in 1964 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History while being Duke’s  starting catcher on the baseball team for three years. Summers were spent on the island of Puerto Rico working in a record store while improving his Spanish.

For Brian, the summer after his college graduation proved to be the first of the three defining experiences of his life. While staying with relatives in northern Idaho and finding the best employment his History degree offered him was moving irrigation pipe, he decided to go to law school. With his father, Eddie Smith, dying 6 months prior and leaving his mother alone in Arizona, the University of Arizona in Tucson was Brian’s choice of law schools.

In 1966, the second life-changing experience occurred when at age 24, Brian served a mission for the LDS Church. He was sent to the Brazilian Mission and because of his age and education was given positions of leadership and responsibility. One humorous story told is that when Brian served as financial clerk of the mission, a Church auditor was sent to Brazil to investigate the large amount of surplus funds in the mission’s bank account. When the auditor sat down with the mission’s financial clerk—Elder Brian Smith from New York City—the mystery of the surplus funds was solved. Elder Smith had been taking the church’s monthly check to the black market in downtown Sao Paulo and trading the dollars at a high interest rate for Brazilian currency!  The shocked auditor praised Elder Smith on his enterprising ways but said it was best the LDS Church stay far away from Sao Paulo’s Black Market!

It was when Brian returned to Arizona at the end of his mission in December of 1968 that the third life-defining event happened. Some friends stopped by to welcome him home and as they were leaving handed him a 3X5 white notecard with the contact information of a girl they thought he might want to meet. The name on the notecard was Jeanine Wright.  Their hunch was correct with Brian and Jeanine were marrying 6 months later in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple.

Returning to Tucson with his new bride, Brian completed law school and was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1971. With an affinity for tax law, Brian’s first job was working for the IRS in Dallas, Texas. It didn’t, however, take but a few hours for him to see this was not a good fit and so returned to Tucson after one day where he found other employment as a lawyer. It was also at this time the opportunity was extended for Brian to work as a part-time volunteer in Washington D.C. with Vice President Gerald Ford. But when the time commitment proved too great and Jimmy Carter won the presidency in 1976, Brian’s short-lived political career was over.

In 1977, with two children in tow and Jeanine pregnant with a third, the family moved to Yuma, Arizona where they would live for many years in the Hettema neighborhood. It was in Yuma Brian founded the BES Law Firm located at 301 S. 2^nd Avenue, specializing in serious injury and wrongful death litigation.

In 1993, to be closer to extended family and aging parents, Brian moved his family to Gilbert, Arizona and for the next five years flew his small airplane back and forth to his law office in Yuma.  Eventually selling his Yuma practice, he continued working for many years from his home office in Gilbert, often telling Jeanine: “I failed retirement!”

2006 arrived with Brian reluctantly agreeing to keep a promise made to Jeanine years earlier. They applied to serve a Senior Couple Mission for the LDS Church.  Initially told they would serve a Public Affairs mission in New York City; they were both shocked to receive the news they instead would serve a proselyting, Spanish-speaking mission to the South Bronx, in addition to overseeing the 40 missionary apartments in the NYNYNorth Mission!  If Jeanine wondered if Brian would back out now, she stopped worrying when he left the house and said he was going to Ace Hardware. “I’ve always wanted a reason to buy a tool belt!” was his explanation.

Once again, the Lord knew best with that Senior Mission to the Bronx transforming the couple.  In just a year after returning home to Arizona, they were back in the heart of the Bronx working at the Church’s Public Affairs office in Manhattan while Brian taught Business Law at Monroe College. In 2009, when Brian’s health failed in NYC, the couple moved to San Antonio, Texas to live near a daughter’s family. After a year, with Brian now healthy, the couple was called to serve as the Directors of the LDS Regional Employment Center in San Antonio for 13 months.

Back home in Gilbert in 2011, the couple served first in the Mesa and then the Gilbert LDS Temple while enjoying their growing family. Health problems again began entering Brian’s life but that didn’t stop him from celebrating his 75^th birthday in New York City watching a Yankees game with his children around him.  At home, early in the morning of October 23^rd, Brian collapsed from an aneurysm rupture. Barrow’s Neuroscience Hospital kept him on life support until his children could gather to say farewell to their Dad. Brian passed away under Hospice care the morning of October 27^th.

While the life of Brian Smith will forever be remembered as “full speed ahead” — What truly defined Brian Smith was his big heart. His genuine and unfailing concern, support and generosity to his family, friends and even strangers is what endeared him to us all. His abiding faith in God gave him strength and purpose throughout his life. He will be missed.

Brian is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeanine Wright Smith, sons Brian Carlos and George Kimball and daughters, Carley Joy Conder, Mandi Erin Reading and Emily Theresa Payne, 17 grandchildren and his brother, Edward.

Memorial services for Brian include a VISITATION, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, from 6-8PM at Bunker’s, 3529 E. University Dr.  Mesa, AZ 85213. BURIAL on Sat., Nov. 16, 2019 at 9AM at Mesa Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St. Mesa, 85201 and FUNERAL followed by a LUNCHEON at 11AM at 2549 N. 32^nd St., Mesa, AZ 85213. Flowers can be sent to Bunker’s University Chapel at 3529 E. University Dr. Mesa, AZ 85213.

Dixie Kay Eyring Williams, born August 5, 1952 in Mesa, Arizona, passed away on Monday, October 28, 2019, in Longview, Washington. Dixie was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is remembered as a loving and supportive wife, mother, grandma, sister, and friend by everyone who’s lives she touched. Raised on a dairy farm in Chandler, Arizona, with her 9 siblings, she learned the value of hard work and the importance of family. In college, she met and married the love of her life, Dennis Williams, with whom she shared 47 years of marriage. Dixie loved music and shared her singing talents in several choirs, including the Northern Arizona Cow Belles. She became an accomplished pianist and organist. Dixie took up cross-stitch, and made commemorative cross-stiches for numerous friends and family members to celebrate hundreds of weddings and births. She was blessed with a heart designed for limitless giving, and she had a genuine love for all of God’s children. “We are all children of Heavenly Father,” she would remind others. Charity and unconditional love is her legacy. Dixie is preceded in death by her parents, Wendell and Verda Eyring; 3 siblings, Michael Eyring, Shirly Eyring, and Patricia “Pinky” Eyring; and daughter-in-law, Kara Cherry-Williams. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Williams; 3 children, Ryan Williams, Randa Jo Ward, and Rex (Erica) Williams, 11 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; and 6 siblings.

Lloyd Wayne Conder, 78, died Friday, October 25, 2019, surrounded by loved ones following his long battle with cancer.

He leaves behind his wife of 14 years, Marilyn (Shumway, Prock) Conder; his daughters and their families, Steve Brown & Christine (Conder) Barbere and Bob & Karen (Conder) Belcher; his sons and their families, Michael & Carley Conder, Scott & Anna Conder, and John Conder; his ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his four brothers and their families; and many close friends. Lloyd loved his family and friends a great deal and enjoyed spending time with each of them. This year, he was able to hold his first of two adorable great-grandchildren.

Lloyd was born in Gunnison, Utah; and raised in California. He is the oldest son of Will and Erda (Hill) Conder.  He has four beloved younger brothers.

In his early years, Lloyd graduated from Hawthorne High School in Hawthorne, CA. He served in the tank division of the Army and served as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the state of Texas.

Lloyd met his first wife, Bessie (Ashby) Conder (she passed away in 1995) at a stake dance and they were married in the Los Angeles temple in 1965.  Through the years, his success can be directly attributed to his strong work ethic, his natural kindness and sales aptitude.  He took pride in primarily working for himself and with business partners in ventures including owning multiple grocery stores and residential property rentals.  His favorite, and highly recommended labor of love, was as a temple worker in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mesa Arizona Temple and the Gilbert Arizona Temple.

A funeral service will be held November 9 at 10am at the LDS church building, 2252 W Mesquite St, Chandler, Arizona, 85224. His body will be interred in a family plot at the Mesa Cemetery.

William Heber Bakes (Bill), born July 25, 1922 in Pocatello, ID, died October 26, 2019 in Gilbert AZ at age 97. He was raised in Boise, the son of Warren H. Bakes and Oral Rich.  He graduated  Boise High School and attended college.  When WWII began, Bill enlisted and served in Patton’s Army as a forward observer and interpreter.  He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes, and was among the troops that liberated Dachau.

Bill earned his law degree from University of Idaho then married the former Evelyn Jewel Adamson in 1950. They have five children.  He practiced law in Idaho then later moved to California, finally settling in Fair Oaks.  After retiring he and Jewel traveled extensively.  Bill had an engaging sense of humor and was always the life of the party. He was a member of the LDS church.

Bill is survived by his wife Jewel, daughter-in-law Madeline, daughter Katherine Payne (Karl), sons Stephen Bakes (Margaret), Kenneth Bakes, Thomas Bakes (Bonnie), 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, a sister, Bernice Felt, and brothers Lowell and Robert Bakes.   Bill was preceded in death by his son W. Howard, daughter-in-law Diane, brothers Rich, Donald, and sister Betty-Jo O’Rouark.

J. Murphy Winfield was called back to his heavenly home after a courageous battle with cancer on October 31^st, 2019.

Murph’s life journey began on September 29^th, 1949 in San Francisco, California to Alta Marie and James Russell Winfield.  His childhood years and primary schooling were done in San Bernardino. Then later moved to Tempe, Arizona where he would sink his roots deep into the Tempe soil and become an Arizona State Sundevil through and through.

He finished his schooling at McClintock High School as the first graduating class in 1967, where he was involved in and very much loved his time in the a capella choir.

After high school he served the beautiful people of Mexico, when he was called to serve a two and a half-year mission in Mexico City.  He grew very fond of the Hispanic people and their culture and truly found joy serving them and the Lord.

After his mission he was introduced to the love of his life, Diane Urrea.  Later he took his sweetheart to the Mesa Arizona Temple where they were sealed on June 4^th, 1971.

There they began their family, loving and learning together, and dreaming of the beautiful life ahead of them.  His ambitions and goals led him to receive his undergraduate from Arizona State University, and then pursue his Master’s degree in International Business at Thunderbird International Business School.

All of his dedication, hard work and determination paid off when he started working for Chrysler International, that would begin their adventure of moving all over the U.S. and World.  A few of their stops were Michigan, England, and Puerto Rico.

Pursuing other avenues, Murph took on a new job with a company called James Benefit, a managed health care company.  This job took he and his family to Texas, Utah, and Arizona.  All the while the company changed names from James Benefit, to Alta Health Strategies and finally, First Health.

He finished off his career with Intermountain Health Care as the Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. He gave 20 years of dedicated service to so many people he loved dearly, until his retirement in July of 2016.

Through all of these career changes and moves, he never lost sight of what was most important, his family and his faith.

He served diligently and faithfully in every capacity he was called to.  Some of which were, Branch President, multiple Bishoprics, Bishop, scouting, and High Council.  He genuinely and whole-heartedly loved everyone he served and each acquaintance became a dear and life long friend.

Family was everything to Murph, spending time with them was his main desire and goal in life.  His sweet wife Diane was his treasure, and he treated her that way until his very last day.  He enjoyed being outdoors, hiking and biking, boating at Lake Powell, taking his family to Newport Beach and Mexico.  And lets not forget the countless hours he spent watching and cheering on his favorite football team, the ASU Sundevils.  He has passed on his passions to his children and grandchildren who love him dearly.

He is leaving behind a huge hole in all of our hearts, but because of the knowledge we have in our Heavenly Father’s plan, we know he is still with us and we look forward to the day we will see him again.  He leaves behind his beloved wife Diane, his children Jesse (Tyese) Martin (Katie) Ben (Melanie) Rachel (Ryan.)  Grandchildren: Brennan, Ethan, Bo, Courtney, Taylor, Devon, Luke, Charlie, Kailey, Elle, Henry, Amelia, Jane, Kate, and Annie.

We would like to thank the nurses and doctors at the Mayo clinic for their diligent effort and care of our Father and Husband.  Thank you for giving us more time with him.  And to Hospice of the Valley for their constant care, attention and love they so willingly gave.

We invite all those who would like to celebrate the life of J. Murphy Winfield to come join us at a viewing, Friday, November 8^th, 2019 from 6-8pm at the Bunker University Chapel, 3529 E University Dr., Mesa, AZ.  85213.  Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 9^th, 2019 at 10:00am with a viewing beforehand at 9:00am at The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2549 N 32^nd St., Mesa, AZ 85213.  A luncheon will follow this service for close family and friends.

Interment will take place November 12, 2019 at 1:00pm at the Citizens Cemetery, 1300 S San Francisco St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

Please email us your fondest memories of Murphy Winfield to sixbuchanans@gmail.com so that we can put them in our keepsake book to treasure and read through the years ahead.   

In Lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Murph’s honor to Hospice of the Valley or The American Cancer Society.

On October 28, 2019, at age 58, Ellen Kay Jaehnig received her heavenly crown of life after battling cancer and related illnesses. Ellen was born on May 21, 1961, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, to Ralph and Bernice Jaehnig. She became a child of God through baptism as an infant at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Two Rivers and attended elementary school at St. John’s. At age 12, Ellen moved with her family to Mesa, Arizona, where her parents started their event rental business, Tri-Rentals. Ellen finished her elementary school years at Pilgrim Lutheran School in Mesa. She was confirmed in her Christian faith as a youth at Pilgrim. In 1979, Ellen graduated from Mesa Mountain View High School. As an adult, Ellen spent many years working with the family rental business, ironing countless bags of napkins. She enjoyed her weekly shopping trips to Chandler Mall and loved all things pink, purple, and full of sparkle! She also loved her pink lemonade and just about any food with barbecue sauce.

Ellen was predeceased by her father, Ralph Jaehnig, as well as her grandparents and several aunts and uncles. She is survived by her mother Bernice; her brother Chet (Barb) Jaehnig, Chandler, Arizona; her sister Jane (Jim) Lepich, Manitowoc, Wisconsin; and her brother Dan (Becky) Jaehnig, Phoenix, Arizona. Although she had no children of her own, she held dear her twelve nieces and nephews and their families as well as her many cousins. Ellen also found joy in her friendships with many from Pilgrim Church, members of her Jesus Cares group, friends from her Mesa neighborhood, people she met on her Chandler Mall trips, and, in the past few months, her caregivers at Emerald Glen and Banner Desert Hospital.

A funeral service for Ellen will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona, on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at 11:00 am with visitation starting at 10:00 am. The officiating pastor will be Rev. James Winterstein. The service will be followed by lunch at the church. Burial will be private.

Memorials may be given in Ellen’s name to Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School, 3257 E. University Dr., Mesa, Arizona 85213.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2 NIV)

Scott M Jefferies passed away at home in Queen Creek, Arizona on October 26, 2019, with his family by his side, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Scott is survived by his loving wife Deanne; children Mike & Carrie Jefferies, Dave & Becki Jefferies, Joseph Jefferies & Marc St Pierre, Sam & Jennie Jefferies, Paul & Tara Jefferies, Rebecca & Ty Woods, and Anna & Jason Jensen; grandchildren Andrew & Heather, Audrey, Abbey, Ashley, Chad & Alison, Noah, Zach, Sariah, Hailey, Porter, Brock, Clayton, Sadie, Mack, Jack, Audrey, Elliot, and Connor; and siblings Bill & Paula Jefferies, Mike & Merrilyn Jefferies, Joanne & Mitch Curtis and Jeanne & Gaylen Spear.  He was welcomed to Heaven by his parents Marvin and Blanche.

Scott was born on December 29, 1949 and grew up in Nyssa, Oregon.  He played saxophone in the band, competed in track and was on the football and basketball teams at Nyssa High School, from which he graduated in 1968.  He served the people of Italy as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1969 to 1971.  He returned home and married his eternal sweetheart Deanne Hansen of nearby Parma, Idaho in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 1, 1971.  He attended undergraduate studies and law school at Brigham Young University, graduating in 1979.  After working as a police officer and an attorney in private practice, he joined the Army to serve his country as a JAG attorney.  This took him to Virginia, Fort Lewis, Washington, and eventually Yuma, Arizona.  He continued to serve in the government as an attorney with the Border Patrol, and in 1995, he landed his dream job as an Immigration Judge in Florence, Arizona, a position he held for 17 years.

Family was very important to Scott, and road trips back home to Oregon were common.  Everyone enjoyed hearing him recount funny life stories at annual family reunions.  Scott supported and attended countless sporting events, ballet performances, plays and concerts that his talented children and grandchildren were a part of.  After retirement, he had the opportunity of being “Coach Grandpa” for the Benjamin Franklin High School football team where his son Dave coaches and grandson Zach plays.

Scott loved the Lord, and serving in his church was a defining part of his life.  He served as a Bishop in Mesa and Florence, Arizona and as a Branch President in Forli, Italy while on a senior mission with Deanne.  They were also able to visit all 81 operating LDS temples in the United States over the past 48 years.  Just two months ago they visited and served in the recently completed Rome Italy temple.

Mortuary support through Bunker Family Funeral Home, Garden Chapel, 33 North Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201, https://bunkerfuneral.com

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 2^nd at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 19730 E Ocotillo Road in Queen Creek, Arizona.  A viewing will precede the service from 12:00-12:45 pm.

Graveside services will be held at 3:30 pm, Saturday, November 9^th at the Lower Boise Cemetery in Parma, Idaho.

Jimmie JL Foster, 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on October 17^th, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona.  He was born to John Elliot Foster and Lillian May Robinson in Amherst, Texas in 1933.  Jim led a very happy, active life filled with faith, family, friends and many activities, such as: serving his church, volunteering at the temple, playing and refereeing basketball and volleyball and dancing the jitterbug.

In 1964, Jim married the love of his life, Patsy Lue, at the Mesa Arizona Temple.  They lived out adventures across the country, relocating several times as Jim’s aeronautical engineering career flourished.  He developed the B52 wing launch system for the Sky Bolt Missile project for the Airforce and then went into the private sector.  There he was an innovator and lead engineer in the development and implementation of many of the autopilot and auto landing systems used in commercial and government planes over the past 50 years as they progressed from analog to digital and then to GPS based systems.  Through these efforts he likely helped save the lives of countless airline passengers around the world.  He was declared Engineer of the year by Rockwell International Inc when he worked for them.

Jim and Patsy celebrated over 40 years together before Patsy passed away in 2003.  Along the way, they raised their seven children, Gary Foster, Brian Foster, Sheryl Andrew, Allen Foster, David Foster, Diane Stephens and Kevin Foster.  All seven children succeed him and look to carry out his traditions.  His legacy will also continue through his 22 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Known for his playful sense of humor, unparalleled work ethic, practical disposition and faith-based principals, he will be missed by all.  Jim was a man of many talents, as he demonstrated that he could fix anything.  He is an inspiration to all that survive him.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 2^nd 2019 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2955 E. Frye Road, Phoenix, AZ 85048, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service at 10:00 am.  Flowers may be sent to Bunkers Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201.

Charles K. Luster, 93, passed away surrounded by family at his home in Mesa, Arizona on October 24, 2019.  Charles devoted 43 years of service working for the City of Mesa as City Engineer, Public Works Director, and City Manager.  He also served for many years in the Navy, advancing to the rank of Commander, and further spent much of his life in various leadership callings for his church, including serving as Bishop.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife Ellen Morris Luster, son Michael, brother Pat, sisters Mary and Beth, and his parents, Charles Walter and Chloe Curtis Luster.

Charles has three sons, Michael Luster (Roanna), Steven Luster (Becky), and Scott Luster (Margie).  A few years after Ellen’s death, Charles married Bertha Craig.

A viewing will be held at 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday November 1, 2019 at Bunker’s Garden Chapel Mortuary, 33 North Centennial Way, Mesa.   Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday November 2, 2019 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mesa Mountain View Stake Center, located at 1550 N. Val Vista Drive in Mesa, Arizona, following a brief visitation at 9:00 am.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honor of Charles to Child Crisis Arizona, one of his favorite organizations.

Freddy Flores Jerry, passed away October 25, 2019 in Guadalupe, Arizona. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 480-964-8686.

Ronald Eugene Dodrill, 79, died Friday, October 25, 2019 at 0317 am at his home in Gilbert Arizona while in hospice care. He leaves behind his wife, Shirley (James) Dodrill; his children, Dennis (Ann) Dodrill, Denise Allen, Kenneth Dodrill, Richie (Shawna) Dodrill and six grandchildren; his step-children, William Wolk, Wayne (Amy) Wolk, Cindy (Rob) Rosenberg, Samantha (Ted) Johnson and Yolanda Wolk and 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother, Pauline (Jim) Spriegel; father, James Corbett Dodrill; his sister, Delores Martin and his stepson, Richie Wolk Jr.

Mr. Dodrill was born and raised in West Virginia and graduated from Dupont High School in Dupont City, West Virginia. He was a both a local and long-distance chemical truck driver for more than 55 years. Mr. Dodrill owned and operated Dodrill trucking and worked for a variety of other trucking companies throughout his lifetime. His hobbies included gardening and working outside. He was a fantastic hunter and a master fisherman. Mr. Dodrill was the kindest, most special Pop Pop and will be sorely missed by his entire family. His ready smile and wink will be a lasting memory for us all.

Mr. Dodrill will be laid to rest on Monday, November 4, 2019. The viewing will be held at 9:00 am at Bunker University Chapel, 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa AZ 85213. With burial services to follow at Mountain View Cemetery 7900 E. Main St. Mesa, Arizona at 10:00 am.

Gwendolyn Francis Pipkin Shelley

Gwen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 7^th, 1929. She passed away peacefully in the home of her daughter on October 19^th, 2019.

She was married to her sweetheart-William Ralph Shelley in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1950. The two of them were the parents of a son-Melvin Craig Shelley of Queen Creek and a daughter-Marlene Jolley of Mesa. She was the grandmother of Kristen, Shelley, Jamie, and Jennifer, great grandmother of 10 and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Gwen is preceded in death by her husband Ralph, two brothers- Richard and James and her parents- Horace Earl and Alta Pipkin.

 Marvin John Loar 81, died peacefully at home surrounded by family and loved ones October 20, 2019. Marvin was born in Farmington, NM on January 8, 1938. He married his sweetheart, Janice Christensen Loar on December 19, 1961 for time and all eternity in the Mesa, AZ Temple. He was loved and adored by all who knew him. He lived a life full of faith, sacrifice, service and love. He will be greatly missed. Marvin is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Janice Christensen Loar and his sons Shaun David Loar and Shannon Mark Loar. He is survived by five children. Sheldon Lee (Sherry) Loar, Sherwin Von (Tylene) Loar, Shane Merrill (Laura) Loar, Shalynn Kenneth (Allison) Loar, and Sherri Ann (Shane) Merkley. He is also survived by 22 adoring grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled for Friday, October 25, 2019 from 7-9pm at the Bunker Funeral Home, 3529 E. University Dr. Mesa, AZ 85213. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 11am with visitation from 10-10:30am prior to services at the LDS church building, located at 41426 N. Barnes Parkway, Queen Creek, AZ 85140.  

Marilyn Macdonald Cottrell Haws

Marilyn Macdonald was born March 19, 1929, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Ralph A. and Frieda Zundel Macdonald, and passed away October 20, 2019, in Janesville, Wisconsin. She spent her early years in Phoenix, and held a lifelong love for her beloved home state. As the eldest child, she helped with younger siblings, and tried diligently to support her mother in the care of their home while dealing with her father ‘s extended absence during World War II, as he served in Hawaii. She described that time as one of great loneliness and apprehension, as the blackout in communications kept the family from receiving news of their father.  After the war, the family moved to Sacramento, California, at the beginning of Marilyn’s senior year in high school.  She graduated from McClatchy High. She recounted that she had been glad to move, as she was slated to be valedictorian of her class at Phoenix’s North High, and she had such a fear of public speaking, that moving from all she knew was a more desirable venture than offering that valedictory speech.  Her family then settled in Fresno. She attended BYU for one year, but was drawn back to Fresno where she met and married Lester Lee Cottrell in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1950. They divorced in the mid 1960s, and Marilyn then began the arduous endeavor of raising six children alone.  This began another period of loneliness and apprehension in her life. She established a home in Camarillo, California, until 1975, when she returned to the desert and began a career in dental assisting.  She had about given up the hope of ever finding love when she was set up on a blind date with recently widowed Lyman Haws. They married, and for nearly 22 years, made a home that was filled with their favorite activities and hobbies. They quilted together with Lyman doing the machine work, and Marilyn doing the finishing handwork. Nearly all the quilts were donated. Marilyn enjoyed sewing, knitting, singing, and doll making. The couple also belonged to a dinner group, and worked in the Mesa Temple. Their years together gave Marilyn a positive outlook and happy demeanor that had been so elusive before.  Some health concerns seemed to precipitate some memory problems that slowly escalated. With Lyman’s help, Marilyn got by, but following Lyman’s death in 2014, it was clear that she could no longer live on her own. In 2015, she moved to Milton, Wisconsin, to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She missed the desert; she hated the cold and snow, but marveled at the beautiful green that spring and summer in the Midwest reliably brought. Not having to water the lawn during summer always amazed her. Her dementia progressed and robbed her of her memory and abilities. In rare lucid moments, she was mortified by her limitations, and would ask for patience and forgiveness, which were gladly given. The utter horror and devastation of the disease finally triumphed over her frail body and she was freed from its ugly, but temporary grasp, in the early hours of an autumn Sunday morning. To think of her as whole again is her family’s greatest comfort.  Marilyn is survived by her two sisters, Susan Stewart, and Jane Balls, her six children, Jeff (Debbie), Dan (Shelley), Becky (Mike Clarke), Donna (Loran Allen), Tom (John Shimkus), and David (Marilee); 18 grandchildren, Chris, Cory, Devon Cottrell, Nathan Lenox, Jenn Wheeler, Heidi, Bryce, Davin, Wes Clarke, Craig, Matt, Tanner Allen, Whitney Hansen, Aimee Kerby, Britny Cottrell, Paige Schmitt, Zach, and Cydni Cottrell; and 40 great grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brothers, Richard, Ralph Jr., and William, and great grandsons, Joshua Cottrell and Mason Allen.Many thanks to the dedicated nurses at Agrace Hospice and the caring staff at Oak Park Place in Janesville, Wisconsin. Their service was outstanding.  God be with you and us until we meet again.